Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Career clothing drive begins 10th year of giving

Best Foot Forward offers free clothes

Teresa Gibson shows a friend an outfit that she needs for an upcoming special occasion at the Valley Partners Clothing Bank.  (J. BART RAYNIAK / The Spokesman-Review)

The Clothing Bank at Spokane Valley Partners is looking for professional clothing that men and women can wear to job interviews or to work.

The annual “Best Foot Forward” career clothing drive organized by Sharon Jayne is entering its 10th year. Jayne, who retired from Central Valley School District as principal of Greenacres Junior High, wanted to spend her newfound time helping the community.

“I was looking for something to do,” she said. “I just wanted to do something that hadn’t been done.”

Jayne was inspired by the Dress for Success program at the YWCA, which collects career clothing for women. Jayne wanted to include men’s career clothing as well. The drive also accepts accessories, purses and shoes.

Many people who have nice clothing to donate often think of Goodwill first, which sells the clothes, Jayne said. The clothing bank gives it away for free. “They think of the clothing bank and come up with regular, everyday clothes,” she said. “The really nice stuff, people don’t know what to do with that and don’t think about a clothing bank.”

The clothing bank in the Spokane Valley Partners building at 10814 E. Broadway Ave., accepts career clothing year-round. The annual drive is held primarily to raise awareness of the issue.

This year’s drive began Friday and continues through Sept. 21. Donations can be dropped off at Spokane Valley Partners or at the Liberty Lake Safeway.

The drive has been extremely successful in the past.

“We’ve had 2,000 pounds of clothes, but I really think it’s more,” she said. “If they don’t say ‘Best Foot Forward,’ it doesn’t count for the drive.”

But in the end, crediting the donated clothes to her effort doesn’t matter, Jayne said, as long as the much-needed donations are made.

Nina Culver can be reached at 927-2158 or via e-mail at ninac@spokesman.com.